[Bandito]

I don't know if he is following Ritchie to Liberty, but UNM just granted him his relase and I know Coach Mckay really liked him, so don't be surprised to see Derek Oestreicher headed your way.

[Sly Fox]

Glad to hear about the release from our perspective. I saw the quote from Albuquerque fishwrap following Alford's news conference where he said he intended to stay. This could be very good news.

We have been following his kid sister's status very closely for some time now. Obviously this opens things up significantly.

BTW thanks for the heads up.

[Sly Fox]

And here is the story from the Aluquerque fishwrap:

UNM Men's Basketball: Oestreicher leaves Lobos, another player signs
The 6-foot-11 redshirt freshman was the Lobos' biggest player.

By Jeremy Fowler
Thursday, April 19, 2007

The University of New Mexico's size issue just got sizably obvious, but coach Steve Alford is working on it.

Six-foot-11 redshirt freshman Derek Oestreicher is leaving the men's basketball program without ever playing in The Pit, Alford confirmed through the school's news release Thursday.

For Full Story Click Here

So obviouslu we can now speak openly about what we've been privately hoping for since we perused the UNM roster following RMc's hiring. This would make a great deal of sense from both Derek and our perspectives.

[Cider Jim]

He's 6' 11" & 245 lbs.

[TallyW]

But is he allowed to play? He red-shirted last year... does he have to wait another year this year? And if so would he even want to do that? This would give us a HUGE inside track for his sis as well... If he had to wait a year then she'd come in and they'd start playing at the same time... great potential story...

[Sly Fox]

Basically he can go to a JUCO and play a year and then transfer and play right away at a Division I school. Or he can transfer and sit out a season and have only three years of eligibility. So the JUCO route could a very real option even if he likes the idea of playing for Coach McKay at LU. We should know something on this within the next couple of days.

[BJWilliams]

Would he happen to be related to that girl that we are going after?

[TallyW]

Can we get CVCC to start fielding a "Liberty JV/Transfer" team

[olldflame]

Would he happen to be related to that girl that we are going after?

He's her brother BJ.

[Sly Fox]

Would he happen to be related to that girl that we are going after?

He is Jessica's big brother.

[Bandito]

Our local radio station is reporting that indeed Derek O. is going to Liberty. Congratulations guys!

[Sly Fox]

For what it is worth, some guy named 'Stig' on 770 KKOB-AM in Albuquerque is saying that Derek is headed our way.

[flameshaw]

Our local radio station is reporting that indeed Derek O. is going to Liberty. Congratulations guys!

Bandito, thanks for the info, hope it works out for him and us both.

[Sly Fox]

For those wondering why all the fuss:


Derek Oestreicher
6' 11" 245 lbs
Redshirted '06-'07 as Freshman at New Mexico

[weshender]

Good luck with Oestreicher, I talked to him a few times he is a great and nice guy!

[olldflame]

Basically he can go to a JUCO and play a year and then transfer and play right away at a Division I school. Or he can transfer and sit out a season and have only three years of eligibility. So the JUCO route could a very real option even if he likes the idea of playing for Coach McKay at LU. We should know something on this within the next couple of days.

Unless I'm mistaken he can only play D1 without sitting out a year if he gets his associate degree. If he has passed enough credits at NM to transfer to the JUCO that shouldn't be a problem. He was injured this year (medical redshirt) If his ultimate goal is to play for McKay at LU, he might prefer coming directly and having a healthy year of practice with the team rather than playing a year of JUCO ball.

[PAmedic]

no one ever listens to me

[Sly Fox]

You are correct on all counts. Derek is a Pre-Med major who apparently is a star student so the Associates Degree was a foregone conclusion IMHO.

[TDDance234]

So, you're saying he can play next year?

[BJWilliams]

Would he happen to be related to that girl that we are going after?

He is Jessica's big brother.

Hey I figured as such but I didn't want to assume and end up being wrong. I wanted to make sure

[Sly Fox]

So, you're saying he can play next year?

No, he won't be playing next year at LU. What we were saying is that he coukld go to a JUCO and play for a year and then come to LU for three more seasons. Of course if comes to LU right away, he'd sitout a year and he could petition the NCAA for a 6th year due to his medical redshirt at UNM. So he could potentially play four full years at Liberty after he sits out from his transfer.

That make any sense?

[TDDance234]

Yes.

I was holding out hope that he could possibly play this season. He'd make me a feel a little bit better with losing Brew but should occupy the post once McLean is gone.

[SumItUp]

That's great news. Good things are going to happen to this program.

[SumItUp]

OK, so he has to sit out a year if transferring from a D1 school.

Does the same rule apply to becoming a committee member of the SFC?

[505Cherry_and_Silver]

http://kob.com/article/stories/S62730.shtml?cat=502